Category Archives: Physics

For each of the 6 problems linked below, make a table that describes the position, velocity, and acceleration indicated by the graph. Make sure you notice what kind of graph you are given – is it a position vs. time graph, or a velocity vs. time graph?

In all of these problems, the up direction is positive, the down direction is negative. Let’s use a rounded value for the acceleration due to gravity: -10 m/s2.

An astronaut in outer space throws a rock. The rock leaves her hand and travels toward the Milky Way at 10 m/s. Where is the rock 2 seconds later?

The same astronaut is now on earth and throws the same rock toward the Milky Way – assume she throws the rock straight up and it leaves her hand with a speed of 10 m/s. Where is the rock 2 seconds later? What is the difference between situation 1 and situation 2?

Imagine a shelf full of dishes. The shelf is above a counter. A person grabs a dish and lowers the dish to the dish to the counter. Describe the velocity and acceleration of the dish as it is moved from shelf to counter.

At the same shelf of dishes and counter, a cat knocks a dish down and the dish falls to the counter and breaks. Describe the velocity and acceleration of the dish as it is moved from shelf to counter. Why does it break? What is the difference between situation 3 and situation 4?